The city is home to the country's Supreme Court, the Federal Tribunal, and is an important trading and commercial centre for the surrounding region. It is also host to the International Olympic Committee and numerous international sports federations.

Economy:
The economy of Lausanne, like most modern economies, is largely based on the service sector. It also has an important light industrial sector, with significant food processing and publishing industries.

Some of the numerous international companies with the headquarters and offices in the Lausanne region include Alcoa, Braun Medical, Ernst & Young, Hydro Aluminium, KPMG, Nestle, Orange, Philip Morris, Price Waterhouse Coopers and Siemens and the city is also home to the headquarters of the five largest commercial banks in Switzerland.

Local Infrastructure:
Lausanne's closest major international airport is located just 60 kilometres away in Geneva and is connected to the city via direct trains from the airport station. The airport caters for flights to and from destinations all over the globe and most major destinations in Europe can be reached in little more than an hour.

The city is an important intersection in the European rail network and has direct rail links with Milan, Paris and Rome. Trains connect at Basel, Bern and Zurich to inter-city services from Germany, Benelux and Scandinavia. Paris can be reached by train in approximately 3.5 hours, while Milan and Munich are just 4 hours away.

The city itself has a very good public transport system covering most parts of the Lausanne and is comprised of buses, trolley-buses and a metro system.

Local Workforce:
Lausanne benefits from a truly multi-lingual and multi-cultural workforce, with nearly all Swiss citizens being able to speak more than one language. The city is also home to several leading educational institutions, which ensure companies operating in the region have access to a highly skilled workforce. These include the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, the University of Lausanne, the University Hospital Center of Vaud, the International Institute for Management Development and the Lausanne Hotel Management School.

Standard of Living:
Lausanne offers an excellent quality of life in a beautiful location. The city boasts numerous parks and gardens and has a thriving arts scene, with the Palais de Beaulieu playing host to regular concerts, operas and ballets. There are also a large number of museums, galleries, theatres and restaurants to enjoy.

With Lake Geneva so close there is ample opportunity for water sporting activities such as wind surfing and sailing, while in the winter months cross-country and downhill skiing facilities are less than a one hour journey away.

Business Costs:
The canton of Vaud, in which Lausanne is situated, offers a number of financial incentives for companies looking to establish themselves in the region. These include tax incentives, such as exemption from corporate tax for up to ten years, loan guarantees, help with paying interest on bank loans and financial support for the training of scientific and technical personnel.